Report Gay Priests Abuse Not Linked

Despite the fact that experts dismiss any link between being gay and committing child sexual abuse, the Catholic Church insisted on commissioning an investigation in response to numerous allegations about its priests. The results thus far show no evidence that gay priests are more likely to molest children than straight clergy.

Researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice reported their preliminary findings on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. The full report will be completed at the end of 2010.

"What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse," said Margaret Smith of John Jay College in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to the AP. "At this point we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now."

The Vatican, as part of its response to the sexual abuse crisis, had ordered an investigation into U.S. seminaries to look for evidence of homosexuality.